Improvement in corn-shellers



attachment of the tube and lifter-bars.

UNITED STATES JONATHAN R. HAMILTON, OF KINGSTON, MINNESOTA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORN-SHELLERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 109,315, dated November 15, 1870.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JONATHAN B. HAMIL- TON, M. D., of Kingston, in the county of Meeker and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines or Apparatus for Shelling Dry or Cutting Oft Green Corn; and the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making a part of this specication, in which- Figure l represents a front elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section representing the machine in operation. Fig. 3 is atop View of the upper plate, litter-bars, and tube. Fig. 4 is a top. view of the lower plate, showing the Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are side elevational views of the litters. Fig. 8 is a quartering view of cutter for green corn. Fig. 9 represents a plan or top view ot two double-acting machines arranged in a horizontal position, and operated by a crank-motion. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the same.

Nature cmd Objects of the Innen-tion.

The tirst part of my invention relates to the construction and arrangement of a series of litters or cutters, provided with adjustable plates, for the purpose ot' regulating them to suit the size or length of the kernels of' corn which are to be removed from the cob.

The second part of my invention relates to the peculiar form and construction ot' the upper and lower plates, for the purpose of attachin g the litters and tube.

The third part ot' my invention relates to the driver, provided with movable cup and spiral spring, for forcing the ear of corn between the litters for the purpose of shelling dry or cutting oli' green corn.

General Description.

plate B is of iron. It is constructed, as shown in Fig. 3, with Va circular opening in the center, and slots through it radiating from the center, which slots are widened at their outer ends. vOn the under side, around the hole in the center, the plate is tlanged, the object of which will be hereafter explained. The lower .plate G, Figs. l, 2, and 4, is also of iron. It

has a circular opening in the center, and at .tbreepoints, equidistant, projections toward the center, which serve to sustain and hold centrally the tube b. There is also a ange projecting upward from its surface, in which are notches, in number and position corresponding to the slots in plate B. These two plates are fastened to the box A by means of r bolts. Their use is to afford the means ot' attaching and holding the litters c in such a manner as that they may be easily removed, when desired'. A

The lit'ters c are in form various, as shown in detached views, Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, the variation or difference being in that part or position which comes in contact with the corn in the operation of shelling or cutting. In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 this part is made pointed at the upper end. In Figs. 5 and 6, at the base or lower end, it is ulred or winged in a curved form, presenting an edge on its upper side on a line with the point. In Fig. 6 the baseor lower edge ot' this wing is on a line with the top edge ot' the wing of Fig. 5.

In the cutter shown in Fig` S the point is made chiselshaped, and also the curved or winged part has a cutting edge This style of point is used for cutting green corn.

At the top end ot' the lifter-bars are the adjustable plates d. They are slotted, and are held in position by means of a bolt, by which means they can be regulated to suit the size of' the corn to be shelled or cut. A

projecting pin, e, on each side ot the litters, which rests against the iiange on the under side of plate B, together with the fork at the lower end of the lifter-bar, which ts into the notches in the iiange ot' plate O, keeps them in. place, and allows them to open and close at their upper ends when in operation. An elastic rubber ring, f, is placed around the top ends of the adjustable plates, which are attached to the lifter-bars, the object being to hold them up too, and allow for the tapering and Varyin g size of ears ot' corn. The tube b, for guiding the direction of the cob in the operation of shelling or cutting, is made of sheet metal. It is secured to plate C in the manner described, its upper end coming immediately under the lifter-points, the lowerwpassing" through the inclined board, which also aids in holding it. Ihe driver g, provided with the cup h and a spiral spring, is attached to the sliding parallel bars t t'. rlhese are made of a bar of round iron, bent into a semicireular shape in the' middle, to which the driver g is welded. C, and also through the inclined boards in which the bars slide, giving thc direction to the driver iii the operation of forcing the ear of corn. The cup his made to slide upon the driver g, the end of which is riveted or enlarged to prevent its coming off, the spiral spring exerting a pressure tending to hold it toward'the end, yet allowing it to slide upward when in operation. Motion is communicated to the driver by means ot' the handlever D, which is pivoted to the fulerum-bar E, which bar is attached to the box A. in such a manner as to allow the required motion.

It will bev seen that the litters are so arranged as to be opposite each other in pairs, (two of each kind, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, constitute a pair,) thus allowing them to come together, bringing the points so as to describe a circle, small or large, according to the size ot' the cob passing through them.

Theobject of the semicircular-shaped base or winged part ot' the lifter or c'utter is to remove the remaining kernels which might possibly escape the points.

The operation of shelling or cutting is performed by placing one endot' the ear of corn in the mouth of the litters or cutters, bringing the driver down onto the other, when the cup will inclose it. Power then being applied to the lever, the ear is forced between the litters or cutters, thus removing the corn from the Holes are made in the plates B and,

cob, which falls outside of the tube. ,When the cup reaches the points of the litters it is stopped by them. The spiral spring, yielding, allows the driver to pass between them, thus *forcing the cob through into the tube, the upper inclined board conveying the corn in one direction, While the lower discharges the cob in another.

I contemplate using a double machine, or a series ot' them, in a horizontal position, and operating them bymeans of a crank movement,

as shown in Figs. 9 and l0, second sheet.

I claim as my inventionl. The litters c, provided with -points k and when constructedand arranged substantially as shown and described, for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the plates BV and O, constructed substantially as shown, with the lifters c and tube b, when arranged as shown, and for the purposes specified.

3. rIhe combination of the liftersc and adjustable plate d with the rubber band f, pins c, and ilange m, when all constructed and operatin g as shown, for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination ot' the lever D with the driver g, cup 71., lifters c, andtube b, all constructed and arranged as shown, for the purpose set forth.

5. The arrangement of the lifters or cutters c and c', placed opposite each other .in pairs, so that the lower surface ot' the short lifters lifter o, constructed substantially as shown, for the purpose speciiied.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this 22d day ot' September, 1870.

J. R. HAMILTON, M. D. Witnesses:

LLOYD DoRsEY, E. W. WOODRUFF.

l, in combination with the adjustable plates d,

' 0 will be above the upper surface of the long Y 

